Intaglio printing-plate and the method of making same.



W. S. EATON.

INTAGLIO PRINTING PLATE AND THE METHOD 0F MAKING SAME.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1. 1912.

Mlm/emol? l Any wgsjyfEAToN. TNTAGLTo PRTMTTNG PLATE AMD THE METHOD oF MAKING SAME.

APPLICATION FILED MAYI, 1912.

1,215,354. Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Q za- 4 o o I' es V @i se 22 'E an y :11 24 /9 a4 l l i? i@ i 36,35 /U al: a0 E A is T 2.9 29 SJ A j est:r

WILLIAM s. EAToN, o1:` SAG HARBOR, NEW Y coMPANY, oF NEw YonK, N. Y.,

eax, AssIGNonTo 'AMEarcAN BANK Noma',

A conroaATroNor NEwYo'BK.

lINTAeLro 'PRINTING-PLATE ANn THE METHOD l"or MAKING SAME.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. EATON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Sag Harbor, in the county ofA Suffolk and State of-New new and useful Improvements in Intaglio Printing-Plates and the Methods of Making.

Same, of which the following is a specification, reference being had vtherein to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

My. invention relates to intaglio printing plates, and the art or method of making same, andmore particularly to a type of plate and art vand apparatus, adapted to economically and readily produce plates which may be used ini lieu of the handand mechanically engraved steel plates now in use. 4

The main object of the invention is to lprovlde an intaglio printing plate of sufficient thickness composed of a solid homogeneous body of iron or other ferruginous material having a smooth surface and hav.- ing under'surface formed through electro-deposition. A further object is to provide a plate of this character formed of such material in combination with a hardening agent. A still further object is toprovide an art or method of making intaglio printing plates whereby a number of printing plates may be readily and economically produced in their entirety, from a master plate, thus permitting exacti tude in the characteristics of all plates-of the same design. A still further object is to provide an art or taglio printing platesby means ofwhich plates of a thickness and homogeneity sufficient to withstand the' wear of use, may be produced. A stillfurther object isto provide an art or method of making intaglioprintingplates by electro-deposition,

wherein imperfections in the plate due `to jthe presence of bubbles .of hydrogen upon the surface .of the cathode, which when completed constitutes the plate, will be obviated. A still further object is to provide such an Specilloation of Letters Intent.

York, have invented certain` kAnd a still further printing lines therein,

method of making inratented Feb. 13, 1,9117.

' Application mea May 1,1912. serialmesaaee.

artor method wherein parts ofthe plate during lts formation by` electro-deposition w1ll have the iron or other ferruginousmaterial deposited; under uniform conditions throughout theventire plate. A still further ,obJect 1s to provide an art or method of printing plates by electro'-v making, intaglio deposition, vwherein. thev time required to complete' the minimum.

'plates will be reduced .to-a A st11l further* lobject is to 7 provide anart o rnmethod of makingfintaglio printing plates by elect'ro-dpposition,y

wherein the conditions in thebath will be malntained substantially uniform -at all times during the production of a plate.l

objectfis to provide an 'f apparatus for carrying on my aforesaid art or methodof producing intaglior printing plates, wherein the matrix upon which the plate is formed by electro-deposition will be supported in the bath in a mannervto permit the cleansing of the surface of the matrix and of the plate as it is gradually built'up thereon, in order toavoid the presence of hydrogenbubbles vand resultant ,def fects'in the completed plate.

The invention consists in an intaglio printing plate formed `in electro-deposition of ferruginous material upon a cameo matrix plate, and the novel art or method of making such plates, all as hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the Referring to the Figure 1 is a side or cell used in connection with the art lor method of making the intaglio lprinting drawings plate in accordance rvwith my 1nventionpr beingv broken away tov tions of said tank its entirety of an claims.v hereto appended.

elevation of the tankl formed from a masterl disclose the interior arrangement thereof;V

' Fig. 2 is a v'erticalsection of such apparatus inits entirety;

Figa is a diagrammatic 'slewing of the. j circuits utilized` in the practice of my art or method.; and

F ig. 4 is a perspective view of a finished sonalities which enter into the productiony of these plates and which make reproduction thereof difficult.

In most types of vpresses for using` steel plates of this character, more than oneplate of a kind is used, so that in order to make a commercial run, it is necessary to duplicate the plates, which duplication is done to-day by hand or by mechanical means slipplemented by hand retouching or finishing.

By the methods now used, the conditions of production are such as to makeit practically impossible for two plates, or corresponding parts of the same plate, to be identical as .to the eccentricities of workmanship, so that exactitude in the different impressions taken from the same or duplicate plates is most difficult, if not impossible, to secure. Furthermore, the present methods are slow and expensive, both as to machine equipment and the labor involved.

By my invention, I aim to secure and do secure, an intaglio printing plate of the desired thickness,approximately one quart-er of an inch, which is capable of being produced simultaneously in its entirety, and which is formed of a material which may be readily hardened or tempered by those processes which are now commonly used in this art. This plate, which I have shown conventionally in Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings, is composed of a homogeneous mass of pure iron in alloy with vanadium or nickel, which metals through electro-deposition upon a cameo plate, form a solid homogeneous mass of uniform quality throughout, that surface of the plate which engages Y the matrix, possessing all of the characteristics and eccentrlcities of the matrix, ex-

cepting that the cameo lines upon the matrix become intaglio 'or under surface lines upon the printing surface of the plate.

A plate of the character described may be readily harden .d 0r tempered, and as any number of matri es may be made from the same master plate, the number of plates produced from a single master plate may be increased indefinitely, and each plate will possess characteristics and eccentricities l identical with those of every other plate made, which characteristics and eccentricities will also be identical with those of the master plate. Furthermore, the master plate may, if desired, be made entirely by hand, thus permitting this plate to be kept ,perfectly smooth and level as to its printing surface, with corresponding conditions in the reproduced plates. f

By the methods now commonly employed in duplicating designs in plates, or port-ions of designs of the same plate, there is slight distortion ofthe plate from a true plane, thus necessitating a refinishing of the plate after the design has been cut therein, which refinishing is nonessential toa plate embodying my invention. v

In producing plates of the character hercin described1 make an impression from a master plate upon some ductile metal such as lead, by means of a hydraulic or .other power press, which metallic matrix I use as a cathode in` anelectrolytic bath, using anA anode consisting preferably of pure iron. The' anode and cathode are sustained in the bath from suspension rods inthe usual manner in electro-plating.

'Ilo insure the deposition of the ironlupon all parts of the plate undersimilar conditions, I. impart to the cathode or matrix such movement while in the bath as to-repeatedly bring all portions thereof into contact with that portion of the bath having the ,highest specific gravity, this movement also serving to slightly agitate the electrolyte adjacent to the cathode. In electro-plating, particularly with iron,there a tendency for the hydrogen disassociated from the oxygen in the solution, to form in bubbles upon the surface of the cathode, which condition I have found in practice, leadsl to a tendency toward the. formation of holes, similar to blow holes, in the printing plate. r1 0 obviate this difficulty, I clear the surface of the cathode or of the plate being formed thereon by electro-deposition, at frequent intervals, this being aecon'iplished by mechanical means or by means of a pole changer for reversing the flow of the electric current. 4

I have found that there is a. tendency toward the formation of oxids in the bath which reduce the strength of the solution, and that in view of the fact that to build up a plate of the desired thickness requires considerable time, this variance in the strength of the electrolyte has an injurious effect upon the quality of the plate produced. Theseoxids fall as precipitates in the bottom of the tank, and there is also a tendency of the salt in solution to settle toward the bottom of the tank. To obviate these difliculties, I maintain a substantially constant circulation of the electrolyte through a filter, to remove such il'npurities, and lthus secure more uniform conditions throughout the entire tank by agitation; and furthermore constantly supply to the the matrix is much increased by raising theA i temperature of the electrolyte-to substantially 160 degrees F. Temperatures in ex-l cess of this however, have a tendency to ward the formation of bubbles upon the cathode and do not, I have found, seem to increase the effective action of the solution.

I have also found that the raisingV of the temperature ofthe electrolyte produces a more homogeneous mass of metal 1n the plate, avoiding a soft or. s ongy deposlt, which in practice is undesira le.

In the practice of my Invention, I have found that iron sulfate is highly eilicient in the solution, and that this eiiciency maybe increased by theaddition of a neutralizing agent such as sodium bicarbonate. I have also secured good results in the plates, as to density and quality of the deposit, by adding to this solution a small percentage (about 1%) of vanadium chlorid. n The solution should have a specific grav1ty of at least 21 degrees Baume.

I have also used nickel salts'in about .the

same percentage as a substitute for the vanadium chlorid. I have found that 'the quantity of sodium bicarbonate may be varied without materially affecting the velliciency of the bath. l

After the plate has been properly built up lthrough electro-deposition,v I remove it from the bath, strip the matrix therefrom and after leveling the back of theplate and hardening or tempering it inits entirety in the manner now commonly used lwith steel plates, the plate is ready for use in the same manner as an ordinary hand or mechanif cally made intaglio printing plate.

To produce a more perfect printing surf face, I have found that a thin coating of copper, deposited upon the matrix prior to'` taking an impression of the `master plate therewith, gives good results. The copper, however, remains upon the matrix when it is stripped from the completed plate.

In the apparatus shown in the accompanying drawings, 1 indicates a suitable tank or container for the electrolyte, extending across the top of which are the electrode supporting bars 2, 3 and 4, two of which as 2 and 3 are of similar polarity, and the other of whichl as 4, is of'dissimilar polarityto the other two. These supporting rods are lincircuit with a low potential dynamo 5, the field of which is energized from a high potential dynamo indicated at 6, the pole changing switch 7 and the resistance 8 being varranged in the circuit to the dynamo 6. Arranged in a ratchet lthe low potential circuit are an ordinaryl volt meter and ammeter indicated res ectively. at'9 andvlO. he arrangement o the suspension bars 2, 3 and 4 is such as to permit the suspension of a number-of electrodes therefrom, the bars 2 and 3 being parallel wlth and upon oppositesides of the bar 4,

so as to permit the use of a plurality of cathodes with a single anode for the purpose of permitting the multiplication of the number of plates simultaneously reduced.

Arranged adjacent to tlie tank 1 is a filter -11' to which the electrolyte is delivered through a pipe 12, the'in'let of which 'is adjacent to the bottom of the tank 1, an ordinary pump 13 .bein used to maintain the proper circulation o the electrolyte. After filtration, the electrolyte is delivered to the top of the tank 1 through a pipe 14 leading from adjacent to the'top of said iilter. This arrangement permits the withdrawal of the impurities and `precipitates from adjacent to the bottom of the tank, and also of a portion of the electrolyte having lthe highest specific gravity, thus insuring a more -uniform condition of the electrolyte throughout the entire tank.

Also adjacent to the tank 1 is a tank 15 for distilled water, this ltank containing densation is delivered to the tank .15 through the pipe 19.

/ therein iron surfate shown in bulk at 16 for 'combining with the water sufficient salts to .lead pipe, to ,-1,

The pole changingvswitch'l above referred v to is for the purpose` of changing the poles of, the supports 2, 3 and 4 in a manner to cause the currentl to flow from the cathode to the anode for the purpose of removing any hydrogen bubbles accumulated upon the surface of the'former. y

l Detachably mounted upon the supporting bars 2 and 3 are hangers 20, the lower ends of which have rotatably mounted therein electro conductive, thin platens 21 by means of which a metallic 4matrix may be securedv thereto by crimping the ledge thereof about the, platen.v Carried by each said platen-is wheel 22, Aadapted to be actuated 4by a-pawl 23, which in turn is actuated by means of a` rod 24 connectin it with the bell crank lever 25, mounted a jacent to the upper end of the hanger 20. Ordinarily a plurality of suchhangers are used, and all the bell crankle'vers upon the hangers carried by the same support are simultaneously actuatedby an` oscillatory rod 26 actuated `from-the .disk 27.

The object `of this 'mechanism ist@ 'impart to the platen 21 and the cathode mounted thereon, continued movement in the electrolyte in order to successively bring substantially all portions of the plate into that portion of the electrolyte having the greatest density or specific gravity, thus causing the treatlnent of substantially the entire sur- .face of the plate to be under such conditions as will insure uniformity in the product.

The anodes shown at 28 are suspended from the bar 4, and constantly moving between the anodes and the cathodes upon opposite sides of the former are a series of wipers 29, the function of which is to repeatedly clear the surface of the cathode and the printing plate being built up, of hydrogen bubbles, and thus avoid the presence of ilnperfections in the completed plate.

To permit the desired intimate contact of the wipers 29 with the entire surface of the late, I form these wipers of a plurality of flexible disks 30, strung upon a iexible core 31, a construction which permits the wiper to assume any position. A series of such wipers are mounted upon sprocket chains 32 passing about sprocket wheels 33, 34, the dialneters of which wheels are such as t0 position these wipers between the anode and cathodes in the malmer described. The sprockets 33 34 are driven by a worm and worm wheel mechanism 35, at a low rate of speed. The gears 27 are driven from the sprocket 34.

vThe manner of practising the herein described art or method, and the operation of the herein described apparatus are substantially as follows The tank 1 is filled with a solution containing sulfate of iron and a neutralizing the solution from the bottom of the tank 1,

passing it through the filter 11 and restoring it to said tank in a manner to agitate the solution and preserve a more or less uniform condition, and specific gravity ofthe solution, throughout the tank, while at vthe same time removing by filtration the sediment adjacent to the bottom of the tank. The water condensed in the coil 17 is delivered to the tank 15 containing iron sulfate, which tank as it overflows, gradually delivers this distilled water with a trace of iron sulfate in solution, to the tank 1.

The master plate having been prepared, an impression thereof is taken in lead or other ductile electro-conductive material, the design of the plate appearing upon this maa copper faced matrix is used, the lead sheet is plated before having the design impressed thereon.

This matrix is mounted upon one of the thin platens 21, the edges thereof being -crimped about the edge of this platen to retain the matrix thereon. A number of platens 21 are suspended from the supporting bars 2 and 3, upon opposite sides of the anode 28, which is suspended from the supporting bar .4. The various rods 24 are then connected tothe rod 26, sothat all of the platens 21, through the pawl and ratchet mechanism connecting each of them with its rods 24, will be gradually turned in a manner to gradually vary the position of the matrix thereon with relation to the solution in the tank, the specific gravity of which varies at different levels.

Any number of matrices may be made from a single master plate, and the method may be Carried on by the apparatus herein described in the production of a number of plates simultaneously, so that unlike other methods of reproducing intaglio printing plates, a number of such plates may be simultaneously reproduced in much less time than is ordinarily required by the methods now commonly employed, in the production of a single plate.

The deposition of the iron upon the matrix is effected by means of an electric current, the circuit of which is shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, said matrix acting as a cathode.

The hydrogen gas released through the decomposition of the electrolyte, has a tendency to collect upon the surface of the cathode, and to avoid the presence of bubbles upon the cathode, which bubbles would gradually be bridged by the metal being deposited about same, the pole changer 7 may be thrown over from time to time to reverse the direction of flow of the current to free 4the bubbles from the cathode, and in addition thereto I provide the traveling wipers.

29 which rub across the face of each cathode and remove any bubbles or sediment thereon. These Wipers travel continuously between the anode and the cathode or cathodes, and by reason of the flexibility of the core 31 thereof, they will readily conform to the surface of the cathode, and thus secure the desired intimate Contact of the flexible disks 30 with such surface.

The operation of the actuating means for said wipers and for the mechanism imparting the desired movement to the p latens 21 will be clearly understood by a reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings;

30 v density of. material, andv one which will The particular circuits shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings are to adapt the apparatus lfor use with ordinary dynamo circuits now commonly used, and are largely matters of particles, the surface conditions of the matrix will impart to the reproduced' plate conditions substantially the same as those which are found upon the topor non-printing surface of the master late.

- The apparatus is ept in continuous o eration until the thickness of thel materia deposited upon the cathode approximates one quarter of an inch, or that of the ordinary steel intaglio engravedprinting plate.

The manner of depositing 'the iron and of keeping the surface of vthe late being built up free of bubbles and se iment, will' produce a plate having fine grain, and great readily withstand the ordinary conditions of' use. Furthermore, duced from a master plate in much less time than is required by hand land mechanical methods, and inaddition to this, every plate produced from the master plate will be an exact replicaof every other plate thus prohas been deposited upon the cathode, the` the matrix, having duced.

with that of the corresponding cut of the master plate, and the number of plates necessary to equip one or more presses for a run upon the same work may not only'be 4quickly and v plates will be identical sq that the eccentricileconomically produced, butV all ties in the workmanship of the engraver pro.- ducing the master plate will'be accurately reproduced in each duplicate plate made.

When the desired thickness of material matrix is vremoved from the platen 21 and stripped from the plate the printing surface of the plate being linished and the only additional operati n required beingl the possible grinding oil" of the bottom o the plate'to level itup and bring the plateto size, and the finishing of the edges of the l plate.` The copper plating vwill remain'v on served to impart .the

desiredfinish to the reproduced plate.

. Inl under surface printing, or printing from intaglio engravedplates, steel' plates` The deposition of the .iron c a platemay be prov master plate, ormed Furtliermore', the depth of each cut inv every reproduced plate will be identical .surface of said last nain duced upon said A lferruginous matenal-and the granular forlare required to secure the desired finish upon the work, and this invention is therefore limited to the production lof'plates of this character.. In a plate capable of being used in this class of work, it isv necessary that the plate should possess characteristics whichv will enable it machine wiping andpolishing,` and I have fou-nd that a plate having a homogeneous body 4of an electro-deposition of ferruginous material,.is suitablefor this class'of work. It isnot my intention to limit my invention to the precise detailsherein described, it being apparent' thatv such may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

Having' described my invention, what I claim as new, andv desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is l 1. An intaglio printing plate consisting inits entiret. of a'highly tempered electrodeposition o a -ferruginousmaterial having vthereon a design formed of a, plurality of in its entirety kof a highly tempered homogeneous mass ofvferruginous material containing a v hardenin agent having. thereon "a design formed o a plurality of lshallow depressed lines, the surfaces of these lines havingthe'same granular formation as the top or nonprinting surface of the plate.

` 3.l The herein described art or vmethod of makingintaglio printing plates embodying .therein the ste s of making a design, upon a of--a plurality of shallow depressed lines, forming a metal matrix from saidy master plate'and electro-depositing upon said matrix a mass of ferruginous material to a depth to form the' entire plate v whereby the `design-of said master late will be reproduced upon said plate ofeectro-deposited ferruginousl material and the granular formation olf the yto 'or non-printing plate and of the depressed lines therein will be of the same character.

4. VThe herein described art Vor method of .making -intagli'oprintinlgi platesv embodying therein the` Steps of m ng a'design upon a master 'plate' formed of a plurality of shallow ldepressed lines, forming a metal matrix from said .master lplate and. .electrodepositing upon .said matrix 'a mass of ferruginous -material to a depth tov form an entire plate by submerging said matrix in an electrolytic bath [containing iron sul hate whereby the design of vsaidina'ster p ate will be reproplate: of electro-deposited mation or the `top4 vor nonfprinting surface to withstand heavy pressures, asin el said last.. named plate and of the depressed lines therein will be of the same character.

la. rlhe herein described art or method of making intaglio printing plates embodying therein the steps of making a design, upon a master plate, formed of a plurality of shallow depressed lines, forn'iing a. metal' matrix from said master plate and electrodepositing upon said matrix a mass of ferruginous material to a depth to form an entire plate by sublnerging said matrix in an electrolytic bath containing iron sulfate and a neutralizing agent whereby the design of said master plate will be reproduced upon said plate of electro-deposited ferruginous material and the granular formation of the top or non-printing surface of said last named plate and of the depressed lilies therein will be of the same character.

6. The herein described art or method of making intaglio printing plates embodying therein the steps of making a design, upon a master plate, formed of a plurality of shallow depressed lines, forming a metal matrix from said master plate and electrodepositing uponA said matrix a mass of ferrngn'nous material to a depth to form an `entire plateV by submergmg sald matrlx 1n an eleetrolytic bath containing iron sulfate, and a hardening agent whereby the design of said master plate will be reproduced upon said plate of electro-deposited ferruginous material and the granular formation of the top or non-printing surface of said last named plate and of the Idepressed lines `therein will be of the same character.

7. The herein described art or method of making intaglio printing plates embodying therein the steps of making a design, upon a master plate, formed of a plurality of shallow depressed lines, forming a metal matrix from said master plate and electro- `depositing upon said matrix a mass of ferruginous material to a depth to form an entire `plate by submerging said matrix in an electrolytic bath containing iron sulfate, a neutralizing agent and a hardening agent whereby the design of said master plate Will be reproduced upon said plate of electro-deposited ferruginous material and the granular formation of the top or nonprinti'ng surface of said last named plate and of the depressed lines therein Will be of the samev character. v

8. The-herein described art or method of making intaglio printing plates embodying therein the steps of making a design, upon a master plate, formed of a plurality of shallow depressed lines, forming a metal matrix from said master plate and electrodepositing upon said matrix a mass of ferruginous material to a depth tov form an entire plate by submerging said matrix in `a. master plate, formed of a plurality of shallow 4depressed lines, forming a metal matrix `from said master plate and electrodepositing upon said matrix a mass of ferruginons material to a depth to form an entire plate by submerging said matrix in an electrolytic bath containing iron sulfate and intermittently cleaning the surface of said matrix and metal deposited thereon while the matrix is in the bath, whereby the design of said master plate will be reproduced upon said plate of electro-deposited ferruginous material and the granular for- 'mation of the top or non-printing surface of said last named plate and of the depressed lines therein will be of the same character.

10. The herein described method or art consisting of making a design in shallow depressed lines upon a steel plate, tempering said plate, polishing the top surface thereof, placing a soft metal sheet upon said plate and subjecting said plate and said sheet to great pressure whereby the density of said sheet will be increased and that surface thereof adjacent said master plate Will receive the same surface characteristics as to smoothness as said master plate and the depressed lines of said master plate Will be reproduced in cameo upon said soft metal sheet and electro-depositing upon said matrix a mass of ferruginous material to a depth to form the entire plate whereby the design of said master plate Will be reproduced upon said plate of electro-deposited ferruginous material and the granular for- Y mation of the top or non-printing surface of said last named plate and of the depressed lines therein Will be of the same character, removing said soft metal matrix from said electro-deposited mass and tempering said mass.

11. The herein described method or art consisting of making a design in shallow depressed lines upon a steel plate, tempering said plate, polishing the top surface thereof, plating a soft metal sheet with a thin stratum of copper, placing said sheet upon said plate with the copper surface in contact With the surface of said plate bearing the design and subjecting said plate and sald sheet to great pressure whereby the density of said sheet will be increased and that surface thereof adjacent said -masterV plate will receive the same surface characteristics as to smoothnessas said master plate and the depressed lines of said master plate will be reproduced in cameo upon said soft metal sheet and electro-depositing upon said matrix a mass of ferruginous-material to a depth to form the entire plate whereby the design of said master plate will be reproduced uponsaid plate of electro-deposited ferruginous material and the granular formation of the top or non-printing surface of saidv last named plate and of the lromsaid electro-deposited depressed lines thefe'i vwill b. .ofthe same I.

character, removing said gsoft' metal matrix pering said massg- ..15 massand tem-g In witness WhereOf/Ifhave vhereunto axed my signature,'i1 1 .the presence of. two' subscribing Witnesses, 4tliisjlthv day of Apri1, 1912. s

WILLIA'MJ- 's. EATo1\I.4 i 

